The Psychology Of:
A Learning Library
Webinar Series
“Every decision we make with horses has a psychological consequence, whether we acknowledge it or not.” Kerry M. Thomas
Educational webinar series hosted by Kerry M. Thomas, founder of Herd Dynamic Profiling™ and Sensory Soundness™, created to explore the emotional and psychological experience of the horse across a wide range of disciplines an topics.
At its core, this series is grounded in equine welfare; not as a checklist or regulation, but as responsibility that begins with understanding. Welfare does not start with rules or outcomes; it begins with recognizing how the horse experiences the world before we place expectation upon them.
Each webinar centers on a specific subject from pain and performance, saddle fitting and trailer loading, to training methods, management choices, emerging technologies, and everything in between, and examines it through the lens of natural herd dynamics, sensory processing, and emotional responsibility.
This series is not about quick fixes or rigid answers. It is about learning how to see the horse more clearly; understanding how our choices shape what the horse feels, carries, and remembers long after the moment has passed.
Kerry is joined in each session by a guest instructor; a respected professional, innovator, or thought leader working within their own area of expertise. Together, they bridge technical knowledge with the horse’s lived experience, offering insights that honor both science and sentience, and invite a more complete understanding of welfare in practice.
Horsemanship does not begin in the saddle, nor does it end with a ribbon; it begins within you, long before you ever touch a horse.
What to Expect
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60 - 120 minute recorded, classroom-style webinars
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A clearly outlined curriculum premise for each topic
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Practical insights grounded in real-world application
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Thoughtful discussion between disciplines, not siloed thinking
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A learning environment designed for the everyday horse person and the seasoned professional
Available Now
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Next webinar to Record Feb. 19th
The Psychology Of: Saddle Fitting
Comfort, Communication, and the Horse’s Lived Experience
Saddle fitting is often discussed in terms of measurements, balance, and biomechanics, but far less attention is given to how saddle fit is experienced by the horse, and how that experience shapes behavior, learning, and long-term wellbeing.
In this installment of The Psychology Of: webinar series, Kerry M. Thomas, founder of Herd Dynamic Profiling™ and Sensory Soundness™, is joined by internationally respected saddle fitting educators Annette Gavin and Rachael Argo of the North American Saddlery School for a thoughtful, conversational exploration of saddle fitting through both technical expertise and psychological insight.
Together, we examine not only how a saddle fits, but what that fit communicates; to the horse’s body, nervous system, and emotional state.
The Curriculum...
Rather than a fixed curriculum, this webinar is designed as a guided expert conversation, shaped by real-world experience, lived observation, and the questions participants bring with them.
Some of the themes the discussion may naturally move through include:
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How saddle fit is experienced by the horse, not just assessed on the body
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The relationship between comfort, pressure, balance, restriction, and emotional response
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How saddle-related discomfort may appear in training, performance, or behavioral expression
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The difference between short-term discomfort and longer-term patterns that influence confidence, learning, and trust
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The human role in decision-making around equipment, fit, and ongoing adjustment
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How thoughtful saddle fitting can support clearer communication and a more sustainable partnership
As with all The Psychology Of: sessions, this webinar brings together multiple professional perspectives, bridging saddle fitting education with herd dynamics, sensory processing, and equine psychological experience.
Why this webinar matters
Saddle fit sits at the intersection of equipment, education, human judgment, and horse welfare. When that intersection is misunderstood or oversimplified, horses often communicate their discomfort long before it is recognized.
This webinar is intended for riders, trainers, saddle fitters, and equine professionals who wish to deepen their understanding of how equipment choices influence not just movement but experience, behavior, and wellbeing.
The conversation is educational and reflective, designed to improve awareness and understanding rather than assign blame.
Participant questions welcomed
Participants are encouraged to submit questions ahead of time; selected questions will help shape the direction of the conversation during the webinar.
Submission Deadline:
February 18th
Please note:
This webinar is a recorded educational session, scheduled for recording on February 19. Submitting a question does not imply live participation. The webinar will be released to the Learning Library following post-production, anticipated on or after February 22, depending on final processing.
If your question is selected for discussion, you will be notified in advance and offered a thank-you discount toward this webinar.
Your Input Matters
Participants are invited to submit questions or topic-related considerations in advance of each scheduled webinar. Selected questions will be thoughtfully discussed during the recorded session, with first name and general location acknowledged where appropriate.
If your question is selected for discussion, you will be notified in advance and offered a thank- you discount toward that webinar. (Submission does not imply live attendance; webinars are recorded educational sessions.)
At its heart, The Psychology Of: exists to help us be the bridge, not the block. To better understand the operating system running the machine, and to close the gap between natural herd dynamics and the domesticated world we ask horses to live in.
